What makes a mosquito want a bite from you?
We know that mosquitoes are attracted more to the smell of malaria-infected mice than to the scent of healthy mice.
Scientists are now asking a fascinating question: What about mosquito-borne diseases like Zika aEUR”, two deadly diseases that plague the subtropics and tropics? Zika can cause congenital anomalies in newborns and fetuses, while dengue can cause hemorhagic fever, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Both viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes. A person infected with Zika or dengue would also be more appealing to the mosquito’s odor-sensing antennae.
If yes, then it will shed light on the mechanisms by which these viruses transmit their virus aEUR’s from one organism to the next.
Penghua Wang, an immunologist at University of Connecticut Health, says that mosquitoes can be drawn in by infected people because of their odor.
Wang and his colleagues tried to find out this in a series a experiments that was described in a Cell study. They used air to blow air over two groups of mice, one infected by Zika or dengue and the other uninfected. The mosquitoes were attracted to the odor from the infected mice.
Wang concluded that “these two viruses can alter the body odor to make them more attractive to mosquitoes.” The bacteria in the skin is altered to make the smell aEUR, which is intoxicating to mosquitoes. Wang said that he was very excited to hear about the results. “Oh, wow! This is going to [be] a] huge thing,” I replied. ”
Noushin Emami is an infectious disease biologist at University of Greenwich in London, who was not involved in the research.
She says that there are many things in the human body that are different to those of mice. This suggests that the study can be applied to humans. However, it is worth noting that the researchers discovered that mosquitoes are attracted to the odors of dengue patients as well as the smell of their own bodies. This suggests future research.
Emami is fascinated by the idea. Emami is intrigued by the possibility of viruses being able to organize a complex dance among multiple species. Everything works together. “Everything works together. We have actors and very nice actors.
A possible cure was also suggested by the findings of the new study. The mosquitoes’ interest in the new study waned after the oral vitamin A supplement was administered to the infected mice. This restored their microbiome to a more healthy state.
This may help explain why Zika and dengue spread to certain areas. Wang claims that vitamin A deficiencies are common in low- and mid-income countries, particularly where mosquito-transmitted viruses like Zika and dengue are more prevalent. Future research is expected to investigate whether a higher intake of vitamin A may reduce the chance that someone will be bitten by a mosquito-transmitted disease.
